HC Deb 22 February 1921 vol 138 cc784-5W
Mr. PENNEFATHER

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as a result of the fact that £1 sterling will purchase 240 marks' worth of German postage stamps, it is possible for persons in the United Kingdom desiring to transmit large quantities of circulars, &c., through the post to addresses in this country to effect considerable savings by shipping the circulars in bulk to a German port to be stamped and posted there; whether he has power to prevent this; if so, will he exercise that power; and, if not, will he apply to Parliament at an early date for such extended powers as may be necessary to prevent such saving being effected at the expense of the British Post Office and to the benefit of the German Post Office?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

It would no doubt be possible, as the hon. Member suggests, to effect a saving by transmitting circulars to Germany in bulk, to be posted thence to this country. I have no power either to prevent the despatch of unaddressed circulars in bulk to Germany or to fix rates of postage in that country; nor do I see how I could obtain or exercise extended powers in the sense suggested by the hon. Member.